Method for selecting a supply source power

Abstract

A method selects one or a plurality of sets of values characterizing an electric power of a power source capable of powering a device coupled to the power source via a connection interface. The selection is carried out according to values, characterizing the power supplied by the power source, measured at the connection interface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 selecting at least one set of values characterizing an electric power of a power source capable of powering an electronic device coupled to the power source through a first connection interface that is located within the power source, the electronic device having a second connection interface located within the electronic device, each of the first and second interfaces including respective circuitry configured to measure values characterizing a power supplied by the power source and the electronic device, respectively, wherein, in use, the circuitry is active in only one of the first or the second interface, depending on which of the power source or the electronic device is being utilized as a power supply source, 
 wherein the selecting includes measuring at the first connection interface, by the circuitry included within the first connection interface, values characterizing the power supplied by the power source. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the at least one set of values comprises selecting at least one power supply current value, one power supply voltage value, and one minimum power supply voltage value. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring at the first connection interface the values characterizing the power supplied by the power source comprises measuring the values in response to a connection of the power source to the electronic device through the first connection interface. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring at the first connection interface values characterizing the power supplied by the power source comprises periodically measuring the values characterizing the power supplied by the power source. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting at least one set of values comprises selecting the at least one set of values from a list of sets of values defined by a standard. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises adapting, through the first connection interface, the power supplied by the power source. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring power from the power source to the electronic device through the first connection interface according to one of the USB POWER DELIVERY standards. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein transferring power comprises transferring power based on the selected at least one set of values. 
     
     
       9. A device, comprising:
 a first connection interface configured to couple an electronic device to be powered and a power source, the first connection interface being located within the power source and including circuitry located within the first connection interface configured to periodically measure values characterizing an electric power of the power source and to select a set of values characterizing the electric power of the power source based on the measured values; and 
 a second connection interface located within the electronic device and including circuitry located within the second connection interface configured to periodically measure values characterizing an electric power of the electronic device and to select a set of values characterizing the electric power of the electronic device based on the measured values, 
 wherein, in use, the circuitry of only one of the first or the second interface is active, depending on which of the power source or the electronic device is being utilized as a power supply source. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry located within the first connection interface includes:
 a voltage converter configured to generate a converted voltage to be supplied to the electronic device in response to a control signal; and 
 a control unit coupled to the voltage converter and configured to measure the values characterizing the electric power of the power source and to select the set of values, and is further configured to generate the control signal based on the selected set of values. 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is further configured to measure the converted voltage. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the voltage converter receives a source voltage and wherein the control unit is further configured to measure the source voltage. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the voltage converter comprises a switching converter. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit comprises a logic circuit configured to determine a power capable of being supplied by the power source based on the measured source voltage. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is further configured to measure a temperature of the power source. 
     
     
       16. A power source device, comprising:
 a first connection interface located within the power source device and configured to be coupled to an electronic device having a second connection interface, the first connection interface including communication terminals and further including first circuitry, the first circuitry including:
 a voltage converter located within the first connection interface and configured to receive a source voltage and configured to generate from the source voltage a converted voltage based on a control signal; and 
 a control unit located within the first connection interface and coupled to the voltage converter and to the communication terminals, the control unit configured to receive from the electronic device over the communication terminals information indicating an electric power to be supplied to the electronic device, and the control unit further configured to measure a value characterizing an electric power the voltage converter is capable of providing to the electronic device and to communicate over the communication terminals with the electronic device to negotiate with the electronic device a power to be supplied to the electronic device, 
 
 wherein the second connection interface includes second circuitry configured to measure values characterizing a power supplied by the electronic device, wherein, in use, only one of the first circuitry or the second circuitry is active, depending on which of the power source device or the electronic device is being utilized as a power supply source. 
 
     
     
       17. The power source device of  claim 16 , wherein the voltage converter comprises a switching converter. 
     
     
       18. The power source device of  claim 16 , wherein the control unit is configured to measure one of the source voltage supplied to the voltage converter and the converted voltage generated by the voltage converter. 
     
     
       19. The power source device of  claim 16 , wherein the first connection interface is further configured to receive a cable to couple the first connection interface to the second connection interface of the electronic device. 
     
     
       20. The power source device of  claim 19 , wherein the cable comprises a USB-C-type cable.